Improvement in machines for spreading and turning hay



"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GLENDY MOODY, OF FALMOUTH, MAINE.

IMPROVEMENT IN MACHINES FOR SPREADING AND TURNING HAY.`

Specification forming part of Letters Patent 36,791, dated October 28, 1862.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, GLENDY MOODY, ofFalmouth, in the county ofCumberland and State of Maine, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Machines for Spreading and Turning Hay in the Field; and I do hereby declare that the following isafull, clear, and exact description ofthe same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings,.forming part of thisspecitcation, in which- Figure 1 is avertical longitudinal sectionof my invention applied to a carriage. l Fig. 2 is a View of the rear of the same. Fig. 3 is av plan or top view of the same.

Similar letters of reference in each of the several ii gures indicate corresponding part-s.

The nature of my invention consists in the combination, with `a carriage provided with suitable actuating mechanism, ot' a series of independently-reciprocating forks which receive their united reciprocating motion from a series ot' cranks or equivalent eccentric means.

To enable others skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe the construction and operationof the same in connection with drawings.

A represents a two-wheel carriage, with driver-s seat mounted upon it just forward of the axle O. The wheels of this carriage are both' tted loosely upon the axle, but are provided with a ratchet and pawl, as at a b, so that they shall revolve with the axle as the carriagemoves forward, but not when theV carriage is backed. The thills I) D ot' the carriage are boxed loosely on the axle, and extend back somedistance therefrom, so as to swingfreely independentlyoftheaxle. On the rearextensions two crossbars are arranged, as at E F. The

cross-bar Eis fitted to oblong horizontal slots c c of the thills,"and has hounds cl extending forward from it and attaching to a vertical le- -ver, Gr, which is locatedin front of the drivers seat. The bar F is a iixtnre to the thills. Through the extending ends of these bars shortCshafts H H extend longitudinally with the `motion of the machine. The front ends of these shafts have small bevel-wheels I I keyed on them, so as to slide freely, and on the rear ends thereof crank-arms J J are-formed or attached. The small bevelwheels gear with larger bevel-wheels K K ofthe axle of the carriage whenever the lever G is so adjusted as to bring them in gearing position. By means ofthe lever G and sliding cross-bar E the counection and disconnection of the gearing is regulated at the will ot' the driver.

L L represent a series of hay-forks connected v by means of the upper cross-bar, which is clamped to upright standards g g of the carriage by means ot' loops i i and slotsjj, which allow it to be adjusted either to the right or left and higher or lower7 as occasion may demand.

1t will be observed that the lower cross-bar, M, reciprocates, while the bar N remains stationary, and also thatthe handles ofthe forks play on the pivots e and up through theswiveling eyes f, and that said eyes shift or turn to accommodatel the angles assumed by the handles ofthe forks in their movements. The forks arev not necessarily arranged to work at right angles to the direction of the movement ofthe carriage. rI hey` might be arranged to work parallel with said movement-turning the hay toward the rear of the machine-by attaching the forks to a shaft consisting of a series of cranks and worked by pulleys and belt or gearing. In this moditication the forks would have the same motion, as in the plan represented, except in a different direction.

The operation ofthe machine represented is as follows: The carriage being propelled forward, the large bevel-wheels, revolving with the axle of the carriage-wheels, impart a rapid rotary motion to the cranks through the small bevel-wheels. This motion ot' the cranks causes the bar M, with the forks, to reciprocate across the direction of movement of the carriage, and while this is occurring the swiveling eyes ot' the bar N cause each of the forks to reciprocate on their own pivot, andthusopcrate upon the hay on the ground, so as to spread and turn it in about as perfect a manner as when the hay is 'operated upon by aV fork in hands of a farmer, and with great expedition and ease. Should it be necessary to have the forks assume a greater or less angle with respect to the horizon in the movement, the cross-bar N is adjusted to the right or left v and higher'or lower, as required, by means of the loops t' and slotsj; and should it be necessary to stop the motion of the forks While the machine is moving forward, the driver lays hold of the lever Gr and draws it toward him far enough to throw the small bevel-wheels out of gea-r with the large bevel-wheels.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is'- 1. A reciprocating bar, M, with forks L pivoted to it, and operated by means of cranks or other equivalent eccentric movement, sub-- 2. The combination of a carriage, A, with suitable actuating gearing and a series of independently-reeiprocating forks, L, which re ceive a united reciprocating motion from a se ries of cranks or equivalent eccentric means, substantially as land for the purposes setforth.

3. The cross-bar N, with its slotsj and loops t', or equivalent means, in combination with the uprights g g, for the purpose of adjusting the forks, substantially as described. I

4. The swivelingeyesf, in combination with the bar N andl pivoted forks L, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

GLENDY MOODY.

Witnesses:

M. D. L. LANE, H. P. DEANE. 

